Abstract: In this paper we test the positive -assortative- mating (PAM) hypothesis that posits that marriages can be positively sorted along the couple’s education using Argentinian data. Using a regression approach, we find that the effect of husband’s education on wife’s education is positive and significant. Then, we empirically verify if the observed matching distribution is super-modular, i.e., the local log odds ratios of education are all positive. We conclude that the data (weakly) supports Becker’s positive assortative mating hypothesis in Argentina. The model that best describes marriage formation is more consistent with preference for own type rather than with PAM.

Resumen: En este trabajo testeamos la hipótesis acerca del emparejamiento selectivo positivo (PAM) en Argentina. Con un enfoque paramétrico encontramos que el efecto de la educación del esposo sobre la de su esposa es positivo y significativo. Luego, con un enfoque no paramétrico verificamos empíricamente si la distribución de emparejamiento observada de las parejas es supermodular, i.e., si los ratios locales logarítmicos son todos positivos. Nuestra evidencia apoya (en forma débil) la teoría de Becker respecto del emparejamiento positivo. El modelo que mejor describe los matrimonios es más consistente con uno de preferencias por el propio tipo que con uno de PAM.

We use recent unconditional quantile regression methods (UQR) to study the distributive effects of education in Argentina. Standard methods usually focus on mean effects, or explore distributive effects by either making stringent modeling assumptions, and/or through counter- factual decompositions that require several temporal observations. An empirical case shows the flexibility and usefulness of UQR methods. Our application for the case of Argentina shows that education contributed positively to increased inequality in Argentina, mostly due to the effect of strongly heterogeneous effects of education on earnings.

A través de la utilización del método de regresiones por cuantiles no condicionados (UQR) estudiamos los efectos distributivos de la educación en Argentina. Los métodos estándar usualmente se focalizan en los efectos sobre la media, o exploran efectos distributivos, ya sea imponiendo supuestos restrictivos para la modelización y/o a través de descomposiciones contra factuales que requieren una cantidad importante de observaciones temporales. Desde un punto de vista empírico se ha demostrado la flexibilidad y utilidad de los métodos UQR. Nuestra aplicación empírica para el caso de Argentina muestra que la educación ha contribuido positivamente a aumentar la desigualdad en Argentina. En mayor medida, esto se debe al gran efecto heterogéneo que tiene la educación sobre los ingresos.

The consumption of dietary supplements and herbal mixtures to promote weight loss is a common practice in the West. This study was undertaken in Mexico City, surveying stores selling "natural products" at subway stations. The aims of this paper were as follows: to compile a record of plant products marketed as slimming aids and of retailer perceptions of these products; to review the pharmacological and ethnobotanical literature on the species declared; and to create an optical micrograph of a subset of products to verify the accuracy of the list of component plant species shown on the labels. We applied the techniques of observation, semi-structured interviews and free-listing at the retail stores. Results are presented for the 75 species recorded in the 41 weight-loss products surveyed, showing which plant parts are used, the geographical distribution of the species, pharmacological effects, dosage, route of administration and method of preparation, as well as ethnobotanical information derived from fieldwork. We discuss the values assigned to the species used. Microscopic analyses revealed that many of the plant ingredients declared were absent, highlighting the need for greater quality control and safety of these herbal remedies.

We study the relationship between money and prices in Argentina for the periods 1976-1989 and 1991-2001, which represent different monetary, fiscal, exchange rate and political regimes. We perform structural unit root tests, apply a filter similar to Lucas (1980), calculate correlations, perform Granger causality tests and estimate VAR models. The results from the two periods are very different and differ from those found for developed countries. The reaction times we get are much shorter and the direction of causality (Granger) for the earlier period is the opposite of that normally encountered in the literature